Response to editorial

In response to your editorial “A Bad, Divisive Strategy” (March 15), I will try to be brief and begin by giving a synopsis of how the Israeli media summarized the anti-BDS (boycott, divestment and sanctions) law targeted by your editorial. In my attempt at brevity I have not addressed many issues laid bare by those you cited in the your paper.

JTA reports: “According to the final wording of the boycott bill, the ban applies to any foreigner ‘who knowingly issues a public call for boycotting Israel that, given the content of the call and the circumstances in which it was issued, has a reasonable possibility of leading to the imposition of a boycott — if the issuer was aware of this possibility.’ It includes those who urge limiting boycotts to areas under Israeli control, such as the West Bank settlements.”

As can be seen by any eyes that want to see, there are several “loopholes” in this law; so much so that it can be seen more as a warning shot across the bow to those (mainly organizations and nations) who push for boycott, divestment and sanctions, rather than an actual effort against those individuals simply refusing to perform there, as was the case with Theodore Bikel and the entire anti-Ariel Theater action.

It seems the left’s knee-jerk reaction to any action undertaken by Israel, and especially by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, is to prophecy that it would be counterproductive at best, and warmongering at worse.

Finally, the Senator (Jesse) Helms situation you mentioned had much more to do with war and things military rather than cultural/political/economic policies, and is therefore a non-sequitur to the matter addressed in the editorial.

Hesh Lyons, Creve Coeur

Avoiding lashon hara

Recent letters and opinion have become increasingly vitriolic and harsh when referring to fellow Jews and are lashon hara and expressly forbidden by halacha. No matter how strongly held an opinion or viewpoint is expressing it while harming another Jew only affects negatively the coming of our Blessed Moshiach. Having the last word cannot be that important.

Bruce Stoliar, St. Louis

President Trump’s tweets

Repps Hudson ends his well-written article on President Donald Trump, presidential leadership and the bully pulpit with this sentence: “Is it asking too much that he discipline what he says and tweets?”  I would rephrase it to, “Is it asking too much that he discipline himself and just stop tweeting?” which is the activity of a 10-year-old with no self-control.  Despite the millions of his Twitter followers, there are millions more who do not have a Twitter account enabling them to know what is off the mind of the president.

Rosalyn Borg, University City